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Comment by darrenkopp | Hacker News Reader

My biggest problem with the iPad has always been the 4:3 ratio when it comes to watching widescreen movies. It seems a waste to watch a movie on the ipad when most of your screen is black bars (and the zoom to fill is just a slap in the face because it cuts off a lot of video).

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This is annoying, but I think using a 16:9 or 16:10 device as a tablet would make it so you could only comfortably use it one way. Not good news if all you do is watch video on it though.

YMMV, of course, but my Android tablet's 16:10, and it's fairly comfortable in both portrait and landscape.

It is a waste, but why are you watching movies on an iPad? That's what a tv is for.

When you're surfing the Internet, a vertical 4:3 screen is awesome. The reason I sold my android tablet and bought an iPad was because the 16:9 screen sucked for anything other than movies.

Why do you have a tv when the computer meets and exceeds such functionality?

I havent had any form of cable for about 6 years now, I do have a screen which i watch some netflix on, but watch 98% of everything on laptop or ipad.

TV is dead to me.

Why do you have a tv when the computer meets and exceeds such functionality?

Well, I don't see many 50"+ computer monitors lying around.

Have you ever left your house? Lots of people enjoy watching movies outside of their homes too.

I understand that, but what I'm saying is that movies is one use case. The iPad has many use cases for which 16:9 is less ideal.

Completely agree. The 4:3 is only a problem when it comes to movies. Most things 4:3 is fine.

Maybe it is not for you, but I am very glad it is 4:3. I have a kindle fire, and it is painful when you are browsing websites in landscape mode.

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